High Velocity Bowling: Better Than Wii Bowling? (Review)

Coming from Team Ramrod (hi, Super Troopers reference), this game of ten-pin features waggle, online leaderboards, and, wait a tic… custom soundtracks using an in-game XMB! Sure, it all sounds a lot like Wii Sports, but will it make Grandma Bessie want a Playstation 3 for Christmas?

No, it works very well. More natural. Then again, part of the appeal of bowling in Wii Sports might've been how easy it was to pull off spin. It takes a bit more practice to do so in High Velocity, just like it would with a real bowling ball.

So yeah, in terms of raw mechanics, it beats the pants off of using a Wiimote.

Back in the days before motion controls, I'd agree, but they're the one thing that could actually make a bowling game *fun.* And honestly, you're paying as much for High Velocity as it'd probably cost to rent a pair of shoes at some bowling alleys these days.

However, the thing that makes Wii bowling fun, at least for me, is that I bowl with Wii bowling the way I would normally bowl - and it naturally puts in my real spin to the throw. That's always really satisfying! The graphics of HVB are obviously a lot better, but that doesn't really matter...it's just a sphere rolling down a flat plane anyway. And the music feature is cool...but I have a stereo system near my television, so I can play my own music there.

But if you have a PS3 and don't own a Wii this seems like a good party game.

I think what bugs me about Wii Bowling is that it's very easy to cheese your way to a high score. Flick your wrist in a certain way and you'll almost always get a strike. High Velocity makes you learn how to apply the right amount of pressure as you let go of the ball, which is just more rewarding once you get used to it.

I used to own a Wii but sold it because there was no games that interested me. Only game I liked is the Bowling game that was included. I have a PS3 now and thankfully a better(?) version is available. I'm going to download it now to test this baby out. $10 bucks you cant lose.

I've played quite a bit of Wii Bowling, and I've only spent about two hours with High Velocity Bowling, so I'm nowhere near close to being able to weigh in.

I will say, however, that High Velocity Bowling is great and is fun as hell. The game works really well and it has a nice charm to it. I look forward to spending more time with it soon, and I'll be so bold as to say it could very well end up being better, to me, then Wii Bowling....but I'll make that judgment after I've spent more time with it.

You move the controller, though some of the more strategically placed buttons do allow you to select certain options like checking out the slickness of the lane or confirming your aim (and spin is put on the ball using L2/R2). Positioning your character and throwing are all carried out with motion controls, though.

you hold your controller in a way to where you are shaking the controllers hand...

Hold the controller vertical, so both "fangs" are at the top of your index finger, and at the bottom of your pinky.

This means that you can now easily use the X Square Triangle Circle buttons just with your thumb..

First you pick where you will start. I am not sure what the hash-marks are called. You do this by tilting the remote with the six axis. hit X to select that spot..

Second you select which direction the ball will go from that spot.. So it will go left/right/straight. Its all six axis controlled so you can ease it to wherever you want in a 180degree space.

Third. The character starts the walk towards the lane/line. you swing your arm back then forth to throw.. and you use l2 or r2 with your pinky or thumb to determine the spin. This is where it differs from the wii, however the "POWER" of the throw is superior in this. You can yank your arm as if you were throwing a bowling ball at the ceiling, and it will go wayyy to fast.. or you can throw the ball as you normally would, or do the Peggy Bundy slow mo style and barely flick your arm. So mainly, you aren't using the wrist rotation to spin the ball.. you are using the touch sensitive L2 R2 buttons. This takes some getting used to, but once you get it down, its very smooth.

Example, while you are doing your bowling motion with your arm, you slightly hit the R2 button to give you 14% right direction spin.. I cant remeber if you hit R2 with your index finger or your thumb now.. its late.. but yeah thats pretty much it.

The ease of use with the sixaxias. I never imagined holding it like that. And the way it responds to my arm movements. Wicked. Then the in game game XMB music access WOW. Nice.I got loads of music on the PS3 HDD and through my PC i can use winamp or nero to stream more. For $10.00 definitley worth the buy.Great one PSN.

High Velocity Bowling blends the perfect combination of Next-Generation graphics and intuitive,rumbling and interactive control scheme. Only on the PLAYSTATION 3® will you find such innovation from studios such as Sony Santa Monica.

Once again, due to shoddy design by Microsoft. A game such a High Velocity Bowling will never reach the XBOX 360. Once again shortchanging the honest, hard working consumer out of his/her funds. Instead, you're lead by slave drivers who will milk every bit of change out of your pocket.

Okay just played it for about 40 minutes and I can say it is more complicated to play at first. After about 10-15 throws you get used to it and dare I say it's more fun than Wii Bowling. The controller will take a while to get used to, personally I like the Wii controller better for these type of games. What I like about HVB is that a little kid can't whoop you easily as with Wii Bowling. Let's just say the game is more advanced and the controller more accurate =)